Stoker



Aug. 22, 1939. J, R, @BMGN 2,170,279v

STOKER Filed Dec. 17, 195'? A AmRNEY.

Patented Aug'. 22, 1939 y UNITED STATES@ PATENT OFFICE amava y -s'rox'nn Jesepb n. Robinson, Pittsburgh, Pa. Y Application December 11, 1931, serial No. 180,281

s ciamis. (ci. 11o-4s) ring form, the annular wall surrounding'the fuel supply middle or bowl portion and having inwardly directed airsupply ports, of various con'' structions.

In the combustion of coal in such stokers, the'-r volatile gases are distilledaway and burned and the coal tends to become coke uponemerging upwardly into the combustion zone. In such progre and combustion, the mass of upwardly moving coaldue to preliminary coking, assumesa so-called tree form, and must be broken down orv separated .at intervals for the best ree0 sults in final and complete combustion and for securing the full heating value of the fuel. Various means have been utilized for thus separating or breaking down the partially coked fuel, such as byactive hand lor mechanical stoking, etc.

e 5 My invention provides means whereby the upwardly. moving mass of partially coked coal is automatically `separated as it emerges through the fire bowl or retort of the burner. In such progress the mass of fuel is divided into sectional portions which fall outwardly in more or less separated condition, with the resulting advantage of final thorough and complete combustion. Ordinarily, any resulting clinker formation may be readily removed from time to time over the usual supporting grate bottom or floor and outwardly through the usual door of the furnace.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

vention as applied to the burner of a hot water boiler;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one form of the supplemental stoker distributor located J across the top of the burner;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III- III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isa transverse line IV. IV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view like Fig. 2 showing a modiiied construction; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line VI--VI of Fil?. 5;

Fig, '7 is a similar plan view showing a further modification, utilizing a. single cross bar;

sectional view on the shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows in elevation and section the in- Fig. 8 is a cross section thereof on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. '7;

- Figs,v 9 and 10 show furthermodiflcations'in plan view. vReferring to the drawing, A represents the outer portion of one form of standard fuel supply construction provided with a coal hopper or chamber, an air blower, and a feeding coal propeller 2 for advancing the fuel inwardly and upwardly-through the chamber B of the burner, as l0 I the form shown, is circular Such chamber, in A in cross section, flaring upwardly toward the "open top andof tuyre type, provided with air inlet openings 3 communicating with a surround- 15` ing.`ai r`supply chamber I between the inner and outer walls 5 and 6 of the burner. Such chamber is ,inl communidition by opening 1 with the hollow -interior 8 communicating backwardly with the blower of the equipment, not necessarily described.A

In'such construction, .as in others now in use',

` fuel in the form of sized coal is fed by the worm 2 into the bottom of chamber B and upwardly therethrough to and outwardly from the top into the zone of combustion of the furnace, in connection with the air supply. However, because of the intense heat, the upper portion of the `burner is subject to partial destruction and requires replacement, either entire, or when in sectional fo of one or more sections.

' 'Ihe object of theinvention is to provide means located at the emergence top of the burner for separating the mass of fuel or the so-called tree into plural sections for upward and outward dispersion, for better combustion, and avoidance of handl `or mechanical stoking. Also to Yprovide such means with fluid circulation cavities for protection against excess heat destruction and also for avoiding such in the burner itself.

Such means, comprise one or more transverse bars-or separating members as in the different constructins shown.

Thus in Fig. 7 I may utilize a transverse bar 9 extending across the middle of the top of cham ber B and secured to its annular rim in any suitable manner, as by flanges i0 or otherwise.

In. cross section such separating bar is preferably tapered downwardly' and-inwardly in wedge formation as indicated at Il, whereby to provide an initial dividing edge i1 against which the upwardly moving mass-of fuelngages, separating it into two opposite sections. As the fuel feeding .operation progresses such sections will become distributed upwardly and outwardly in more'or less broken-up form, avoiding the objection of the tree formation, and dispersing the fuel outwardly for better and more complete combustion as desired.

The bar 9 is preferably hollow as shown at I3 for circulation of cooling water therethrough by an inlet supply pipe il and an outlet pipe l5, at opposite ends. f

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, I utilize double cross bars 9a arranged in X form, whereby to provide alternating openings or spaces i6, through which the upwardly. moving separated sections of fuel may emerge. By such construction the separation is rendered more complete and of reduced mass size, ensuring multiple division of the main body.

In such construction the opposite pairs of bars Sa are connected by annular hollow segmental sections il which communicate with the hollow interior of the several cross bar sections, thus providing complete water circulation passages from the inlet pipe connection lla to the outlet pipe connection I5a. Cross bars or arms 9a are of the same general wedge form in cross section as indicated in Fig. 8, and as thus constructed will operate for multiple division of the mass of fuel, together with the water cooling function.

As shown in Fig. l the Water circulation by pipes M and l5 is in combination with the main annular water chamber C of a boiler, when used therewith. Qtherwise the pipes may be connected in any suitable manner with awater supply and exhaust system of any suitable or varied construction. 1

The construction of Figs. 5 and 6 is of the same general form as to the cross bar arrangement above described, but is provided with a depending annular hollow section lla adapted to embrace the main burner around its outer wall 6, as indicated in Fig. 6. Such depending skirt or double `wall is in continuous water circulation with the upper cross separation portion and is provided with corresponding supply and exhaust pipes id and l5.

By such arrangement the entire body portion of the main burner may be protected against excess heat and resulting deterioration, the con-v struction being preferably in one continuous form adapted to fit thereon and thereover.

Any suitable arrangement of the supply and outlet connections id and l5 may be utilized. In ordinary installation Asuch are preferably located either bodily through or just below the surface of the main hearth ld, in either a water' heating or ordinary furnace construction, as will be readily understood. The cooling duid, as water or air, is of course controlled by suitable valve regulation in the usual way.

A further modification is illustrated in Fig. 9 in which the single cross bar form d of Fig. 7 is provided at its middle portion with oppositely4 extending comparatively short dividing projections or branches id, also cored for water circulation as indicatedV in dotted lines.

Such middle extensions are of variable vor suitable length and provide additional dividing members tending to effect lateral separation ofthe mass of fuel. In such form a greater or more complete plural division of the mass will be effected by a single cross bar provided with such middle opposite extensions.

Fig. 1o illustrates a further modine form. in which two diverging arms 9b connect with a segmental rim lib andwith an oppositely dis-y posed arm 9c providing three diverging outlet spaces IGb.

lThe different forms of my improved stationary Stoker may be readily made of cast metal, as iron or other metals or alloys thereof, for duraibility. While these may conveniently be separately attached to the burner, it-is obvious that they may also be cast integrally therewith, aspreferred.

Also that the cross arms may be changed in form, arrangement or cross section as desired to suit varying conditions of use or combination with different types of -retort burners.

The construction and manner of operation of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description in connection with the different forms illustrated.

It eflectually accomplishes the breaking up of the partly coked mass of fuel', and avoids the necessity of hand separation or stoking, with resulting better vcombustion and reduction of clinker.

Any such clinker may be removed from time to time in the usual manner. It will be understood also that the propelling force of the feeding worm 2, together with the inner flaring surface of the wall of chamber B,A positively forces the fuel upwardly against the dividing cross bar or bars.

It will be understood also Vthat the invention may be variously changed or modified in detail construction for application and use on different forms of burners, but that all such changes, which may be made by the skilled mechanic, are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the unitaryfair supply combustion re bowl of a fuel supply member, an. upper separately attachedl transverse fuel separator consisting of a plurality of `integral hollow downwardly and inwardly tapering cross bars extending over the bowl above its air supply providing separated fuel emergence openings and having fluid circulation supply and outlet connections and removably laid over the rim of the ilre bowl above its air supply. 1

2. In combination with a' lower air supply combustion re bowl of a fuel supply member, an uppermost separable transverse fuel separator consisting of a plurality of hollow cross bars extending over the top of the bowl providing separated fuel emergence openings between the cross bars and the inner bowl rim and having an annular hollow rim and a depending hollow wall vcommunicating with the hollow bars and with uid supply and outlet connections and removably laid over and around the re bowl; y

3. Fuel separating means for the/unitary lire bowl of a. burner as described having air supply openings through its sides consisting of a separable unitary transverse hollowbar adapted to be located across and secured to the top thereof having a wedge shaped fuel separating bottom terminating at the top of the fire bowl and water inlet and outlet connections at opposite ends of the bar.

4. Fuel separating means for the unitary fire bowl of a burner as described consisting of a plurality of centrally connected integral radial hollow arms having wedging bottom portions terminating at the top of the re bowl and interarms, with means for securing same tothe fire bowl.

5. Fuel separating means for the unitary re bowl of a burner as described consisting of a plurality of centrally connected spaced apart radial hollow arms having hollow downwardly `tapering wedging bottoms terminating' above the re bowl and in fluid circulation connection with a depending integral surrounding 'hollow Wall provided with fluid supply and outlet connections.

6. In combination with a combustion re bowl having a lower fuel supply connection and an outer air casing with air supply openings through the bowl below its upper rim, an independent fuel separator consisting of a hollow annular rim removably secured tol the rim of the bowl and provided with inner fuel clearance openings and transverse hollowcross bars in uid circulation with the separator rim and having flat upper faces and tapering wedge lower faces, said-annu- Y of the bar.

lar rim and cross bars being of substantially uniform depth. Y

1. In combination with the unitary air supply combustion re bowl of a fuel supply member, an upper transverse hollow'fuel separating bar for circulation therethrough of a cooling medium removably secured to the rim of the fire bowl above its air supply and having a lower downwardly and inwardly tapering portion, with fuel emergence openings at opposite sides of the bar. 8. In combination with the unitary airsupply combustion fire bowl of a fuel supply membenan upper transverse hollow fuel separating bar for circulation therethrough of a cooling medium removably secured to the rim of the re bowl above its air supply and having a lower downwardly and inwardly tapering portion and middle oppositely extending tapered dividing projections, with fuel emergence openings at opposite sides JOSEPH R. ROBINSON. 

